Privacy, Affiliate Links, Cookies: This site uses cookies, including to identify the country you are visiting from and to measure traffic to third-party sites.

I invest a lot of time and money into running this site, and I use affiliate links to help get a little of this money back. If you click on an affiliate link and purchase anything, I will receive a small commission. These affiliate providers use cookies to understand the referrals I've made and whether an ad was shown. These cookies do not reveal your identity, web use, or other behaviour.

By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies. To learn more about what cookies are stored and how they're used, you can find my Privacy Policy here:
Privacy Policy

#NAAugust #Interview: Jessica Calla

Welcome to another day of New Adult August, hosted by Books Are My Fandom. This month is all about New Adult, and you can read all other contributions right here!

Today, I’m talking with Jessica Calla, author of She Laughs In Pink and the upcoming sequel, She Runs Away. Jessica is a writer of contemporary romance, and she’s here to defend traditional New Adult books! (One love, guys, one love.)

Jessica is also generously giving away a signed copy of her first book, open internationally, so be sure to scroll down for that!

Words with Calla

Tell us about your latest/upcoming book!

Hi Dani! Thank you so much for hosting me. 🙂

I have a contemporary NA series, the Sheridan Hall Series, published by BookFish Books. Book 1, SHE LAUGHS IN PINK, released in May, and Book 2, SHE RUNS AWAY, will release in November. The series centers around a group of freshmen housed on the same floor of their dorm, Sheridan Hall. SHE LAUGHS IN PINK is told in first person, dual POV, and tells the story of Juliet and Chase.

Why did you choose to write an NA book? What is it about the age range that appealed to you?

Honestly, I had no idea what NA was until I read Tammara Webber’s EASY. I loved that book so much. I had been reading a lot of YA, and wanted more… more drama, more sex, more angst. Basically, I wanted to write a steamy romance novel that examined first loves and the coming of age during those awesome college years. I wanted to relive that amazing time through my characters, as an adult with a little perspective, if that makes sense.

How does your book embody the ‘spirit’ of NA, if you believe there is one?

I believe my book is traditional NA. College romance, contemporary, pretty steamy sex scenes. It’s what drew me to NA, and it’s what I wanted to write, so I went with it. This traditionalist view of NA isn’t trendy now, I know, but it’s still what I enjoy writing and reading. I’m happy to open myself up to other forms of NA, but I’m a contemporary fan at heart.

Do you think NA has a negative reputation?

I wouldn’t say NA has a “negative reputation,” because people who read and write it, love it. However, I do feel that agents stay away from NA. I understand why—it’s sort of an in-between category of romance. I know it’s trying to break out of that contemporary, college, sex mold that I so love, and I’m all for that. I’m just not sure I’m the author to do it!

What would you like to see more of in NA?

In contemporary, I’d like to see more realistic NA—maybe not in characters’ looks (I love hot guys and gals), but in their situations. More uncertainty. More instability. More character building. As authors, we have to remember that these characters are in their late teens, early 20’s. Nobody should have it all together by that age! If so, they’re probably doing it wrong. 😉

For example, in SHE LAUGHS IN PINK, my main character, Juliet, is confused over two guys she’s into. Some reviewers didn’t like that. In my opinion though, not every character and every love story is going to be so black and white. I’d love to see more exploration of the “greys”.

Dani: YES! Why is it so hard to understand uncertainty in relationships? It happens in real life, so why can’t it happen in books?

Do you write other genres/age ranges? How do they differ?

I do write other genres! My first published book, THE LOVE SQUARE, is considered Romantic Women’s Fiction. I think the difference, besides the characters’ ages, is that characters in the Women’s Fiction novel are pretty established in their careers and sort of know where they want to be in life. They work jobs, they have apartments, they aren’t dependent on mom and dad. In the Sheridan Hall series, the characters are nowhere near that type of lifestyle.

What has your experience getting published been like as an NA author?

I was so excited to put SHE LAUGHS IN PINK into the hands of publishers and agents. On first round, I didn’t get very far. Then I started to enter contests, and I was disappointed that I had to enter either the YA or contemporary romance categories in most cases. Besides the Rosemary Contest sponsored by YARWA, contests don’t have a good fit for NA. (Fun fact: Did you know K.D. Proctor, the author you interviewed earlier this month, won the Rosemary for her NA?)

BookFish was the perfect fit for me as a newbie NA author. They held my hand and walked me through with rounds of edits and tons of support. I loved them so much that now I intern for them.

Getting started in NA

Who do you think should read NA and why?

In my opinion, anyone who enjoys romance should read NA. Traditional romance readers will love the drama surrounding the younger, NA-aged characters, and will appreciate the different types of plots that NA provides.

Would you recommend your book to people who are getting started with NA?

Of course! It’s been called “everything the New Adult genre should be.” If you are looking for a book to start with and sort of explore the basics of NA, SHE LAUGHS IN PINK will do you right!

What advice do you have for other authors who want to write NA?

DO it! Don’t be put off by what you think the industry is looking for. It’s important to write your story the way you want to write it. If you work hard at it, finish it, revise it, take constructive criticism seriously, and produce a good manuscript, I’m confident you will get published.

What sets YA and NA apart? What would make a book definitely NA?

Do you think publishers try to fit NA books into the YA section, and why?

I think part of the reason they want to fit NA books into YA is that there’s a shelf at Barnes and Noble for YA. With the popularity of YA series, of course everyone wants to publish the next big YA thing.

Sex in NA

Do you think sex is an integral part of NA? Why or why not?

Hmm. I’m not sure about this question! I’m not sure it’s “integral”. I’m sure you can write a clean, NA contemporary romance, but I’m not sure why you’d want to! In my opinion, sex and relationships are such a big part of your early twenties and college years. Why not get a little steamy? If readers aren’t particularly interested in reading sex, then they probably wouldn’t be interested in NA? Oh no. I think I just answered the question in two different ways. I’M SO CONFUSED! (Where’s K.D. Proctor? How’d she answer this one? 😉 )

Do you think sex is important to write about?

I think that sex is important to write about if it advances the relationship in a contemporary NA romance. If it’s not gratuitous—if it’s sweet or hot or fun, makes the story flow better, and helps the reader understand what’s going on with your characters—then yes. To me, it’s important.

Beyond the contemporaries

Why is it so difficult to find New Adult books that aren’t contemporaries?

New Adult books are probably shelved and marketed as general fiction in their non-contemporary genre. For example, a New Adult paranormal is most likely marketed as paranormal for adults. If it’s not geared toward adults, it would be marketed as YA paranormal. There’s not much of a market for Paranormal in the upper teen years. I would think that an author wouldn’t want to limit his or her market that way, and take the risk of turning off the so-called adult market.

Contemporary NA is different (especially romance) and can be geared toward that upper teenage age group, in my opinion, because of the real-life themes and heat level of the sex. There’s more “in between” room in contemporary between YA and adult where NA fits right in, as opposed to a fantasy or sci-fi novel, where the world is created. In paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy, you wouldn’t want to limit your market to the upper teenage age group because your themes would be fitting for adults, even if too mature for YA. Does that make sense? I hope so.

What’s next for NA?

Where do you think NA is going?

I hope the new generation of NA writers excites agents and bookstores enough for them to consider non-contemporary NA. Again, I’d hate to see non-contemporary NA writers limit their market to the NA market if their stories have a more expansive reach. As a contemporary writer, I’m happy with NA, but I understand the struggle and will do whatever I can to support NA writers.

Recommendations

Do you read NA? What are your favourite books? Who are your favourite authors?

I do read NA! As mentioned, some of my favorites are “classic” NA authors, like Tammara Webber, Jamie McGuire, and Colleen Hoover.

The most important questions

Dark, milk or white chocolate?

ANY, but prefer milk!

Tea, coffee or hot chocolate?

Coffee! Black and strong!

About She Laughs In Pink by Jessica Calla

Series: Sheridan Hall #1

Published by: BookFish Books

Publication date: May 17th 2016

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary

Four years after her twin is murdered, Juliet Anderson still struggles with guilt, her parents, and her relationships. Two things keep her from falling into a deep, dark place—dancing and her best friend, Ben. So when Ben decides to play football for New Jersey University, Juliet doesn’t hesitate. She follows. Finally away from her past, there is nothing to stand in the way. Juliet will win Ben’s heart.

Then she meets Ben’s roommate, Chase.

On probation and hell-bent on adhering to a “new life plan,” aspiring artist Chase leaves his New York City home for New Jersey University and meets Juliet before even stepping foot on campus. For him, their connection is instant. She’s the most vibrant girl he’s ever seen. Her colors explode on his canvas, and he’s never been more inspired in his life.

Too bad she’s madly in love with his seemingly perfect, good guy roommate.

I am an affiliate of Amazon UK and The Book Depository, so using these links will help support Dani Reviews Things!

About Jessica Calla

Jessica Calla is a lawyer by day, romance writer by night. Her favorite time is the kids’ bedtime, when she's free to open the laptop, battle with the blinking cursor, and pour out the contents of her heart.

Jessica is a member of Romance Writers of America, involved in the Contemporary, Young Adult, and New Jersey Chapters, and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She recently became the oldest marketing intern ever at BookFish Books, and was named a Team Member for the inaugural FicFest writing contest. She also mentors unpublished writers as part of the Young Adult Romance Writers' mentoring program.

Besides reading and writing, Jessica enjoys movies, yoga, coffee, and chocolate, but has a serious addiction problem when it comes to Diet Coke, Twitter, and Netflix. Always a Jersey Girl, she lives in the central part of the state with her husband, two sons, and her dog.

5 responses to “#NAAugust #Interview: Jessica Calla”

I haven’t read a lot of NA contemporary yet. I think the last one was Marrow by Tarryn Fisher. Does that qualify as NA? It was such a sad book, not really romantic either, but it made quite an impression on me.

Hi Eveline! I haven’t read any of Fisher’s books but I’m on her Amazon page now and will try her new one.

I do think they would fall in the NA category, from the blurbs I’m reading. Although the few books I clicked on, the author didn’t use the new adult tags in her product description. On her website, it doesn’t appear that she promotes herself as an NA author. I think, from a glance, that she’s represented but self published. Maybe her successful career is support for my theory that non-romance NA authors shouldn’t limit their market? I’d love to hear what Dani and anyone else thinks.

I do wish more authors would tag their books as NA, when they kind of fit the description of course. It’s really hard to find NA that’s not practically erotica, haha. Thankfully there’s been a lot of recommendation posts this month!

Follow me

Ways to subscribe

Like what you see?

Star ratings

0: Couldn't finish1: Want my precious reading hours back2: Could have done without it3: It was good, but it's not an essential read4: Really liked it and glad I picked it up5: Absolutely loved it and would read again

Things I’ve said

Disclaimer

Unless otherwise stated, I do not claim ownership of any images or other media.

Dani Reviews Things is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

Dani Reviews Things is also part of The Book Depository's affiliate program.